Cross-Cutting Discussion on Social Media and Online Political Participation: A Cross-National Examination of Information Seeking and Social Accountability Explanations

Abstract

The question of whether cross-cutting discussion engenders or depresses political participation has offered mixed findings in the literature. Following recommendations from a meta-analysis, this study tests two competing arguments: the information seeking explanation for engendering participation and the social accountability explanation for attenuating participation. Probability surveys were conducted among young adults in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China, and analyses examined the relationship between cross-cutting discussion on social media and online political participation. For the Taiwan and Hong Kong samples, political information seeking positively mediated the relationship, but desire to avoid social conflict also attenuated the relationship. Neither mechanism was significant for the China sample. The findings suggest that the competing explanations are not mutually exclusive, and they highlight the importance of examining the variety of contingent conditions that influence the relationship between cross-cutting discussion and political participation in different national contexts.

Examining How Social and Emotional Factors Inform Response to Cross-Cutting Political Views on Social Media

“…Finally, while the most reported emotion was anxiety, it was only a significant negative predictor for ignoring in the context of a close friend. This aligns with research that suggests anxiety may be more likely to lead toward information-seeking rather than engagement (Chan et al, 2021; Wollebaek et al, 2019). That anxiety was related for close friends and not acquaintances could signal the discomfort experienced when a strong tie holds oppositional views, resulting in additional information seeking on the topic.…”

“…The need to belong argues that humans desire connection and will seek to avoid ending relationships to continue to satisfy that need. When individuals are motivated to form or sustain social connections, they may avoid political disagreement on social media so as not to harm their relationships (Chan et al, 2021; Mascheroni & Murru, 2017; Pennington & Winfrey, 2021). This would suggest that, particularly in the case of close friends, users may refrain from engaging in cross-cutting discussion through social media to protect that relationship.…”

“…Furthermore, situating disagreement and politics within the frame of issues that participants see as important can help to shed light on political discussion at a more personal level, including how the intensity of emotions felt influence response (Henry & Eveland, 2023; Marcus et al, 2006). Finally, Chan et al (2021) argue for research that considers cross-cutting exposure and cross-cutting discussion as distinct constructs; social media may increase exposure to opposing views, but it does not guarantee engagement with someone on that topic. As such, the present study also reflected on strategies of avoidance.…”

Perception of media literacy in the education community

“…Research participants perceive ML in the proper sense because they not only view it as critical thinking skill, but also as research and social skill, where the use of technology is assumed. The answers range from understanding and critical analysis of media content, through understanding of media and the ways they impact the society, through the use of media for personal purposes ('immunity' to the vulnerability to manipulation of the media and propaganda) and finally, building media content as a backbone of a participatory culture (Jenkins et al, 2009;Yanarates, 2020;Nielsen et al, 2021;Chan et al, 2021).…”

“…Emphasis is placed on the possibility of critical 'reading' of critical understanding of contents that media convey and the development of personal communication skills for "active participation in society" (Matović, 2011, p. 54). This quality of active participation in the modern media driven world becomes as important as the quality of critical thinking (Bruns, 2007;Van Dijck, 2009;Chan et al, 2021). In this way the phenomenon of ML has become a question of public policy and democratization of society, and ultimately qualified by the National Leadership Conference on Media Literacy in 1992 as "the ability to access, analyse, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms" (Aufderheide & Firestone, 1993, p. 6).…”